Peaky Blinders: Sneak peak at new TV show

Charles Heslett

Peaky Blinders is described as “an epic gangster family saga” set in 1919.

The six-part series features a star-studded cast including film actors Cillian Murphy (The Dark Knight Rises), Sam Neil (Jurassic Park) and Helen McCrory (Harry Potter).

Leeds Town Hall, The City Varieties and other city locations will stand in for Birmingham, where the drama is set.

Film agency Screen Yorkshire attracted the producers with investment from its Yorkshire Content Fund which aims to create jobs and investment in the region.

The story begins just after the First World War.

At the top of the industrial jungle that is Birmingham are the Shelby family who make up the city’s fiercest criminal gang of all - the ‘Peaky Blinders’.

Named for their practice of sewing razor blades into the peaks of their caps and using them to slash enemies across the face, the ‘Blinders’ make their money from off track betting, protection and robbery.

Their boss Tommy Shelby (Murphy) is the most ruthless brother.

His leadership is about to be tested by the Chief Inspector Campbell (Neill) who has just arrived from Belfast.